The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1886. Government Life Insurance

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 11, 8 July 1886, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1886. Government Life Insurance

Tiie voting papers, to be used on the 19th inst. on the three proposals for the Government Life Insurance Association, have been issued. Policyholders m this district will require to exercise their franchise, and post the papers at once, as the time at their disposal is very limited. They should be out of hand and en route for Wellington on Friday, the 16th inst., at the latest. We are certain that a large number of policyholders in this district will not receive their papers in time to vote, owing to the distances they live from the several post offices. However, those who are fortunate enough to get them promptly will do well to complete and post them by the return mail. There are three proposals. The first is — That it is desirable that the business of the Association should be returned to the control of the Government. The second provides that the Board should be reduced to six members, three elected and the other three to be officials of the Government. The Government to appoint one of the members chairman of the Board. These are the chief points of No. 2, and carry their own condemnation on their faces. The third proposal is that of Mr Geokge Fisher, in which he was seconded by Mr G. V. Shannox, who was elected to a seat on the Board by the policyholders by such a startling majority the other day. We give the proposition in full :

l 4 (1). That the Central Board be reconstituted ami that it consist of seven members, four to be elected by the policyholders, and three to be nominated by the Government, the three nominated members not to be officers of the Government. (2). That the Board so constituted shall elect its own Chairman. (3). That the honoraria bo fixed at £100 for each member of the Board, except the Chairman of Directors, who shall receive £300 per annum."

This system appears so simple, so perfectly fair, and so calculated to remove the Board beyond anything that could ever savour of Government influence being paramount, whereby the powers of the Institution could be used for political purposes by either rewarding friends or buying the enemies of the Ministry of the day, that it must commend itself to a large majority of the more prudent of the policyholders. Under it they will retain in their own hands a proper control over an affair which only concerns themselves. We must also remind the voters that supported Mr Shannon in his election that they are virtually pledged to support his policy as indicated in proposal No. 3. In conclusion we desire to impress on all that they should write "No " to the two first proposals and " Tes " to the third.